Apple vs Samsung: on and on and on

Samsung looks like having to delay the Australian launch of its Galaxy 10.1 even longer, with a federal court judge saying she needs more time to consider the case.

In previous hearings in Australia, the launched had been delayed until at least the end of this week. However, justice Annabelle Bennett has indicated a brief injunction further delaying the launch may be granted. At the same time, she has urged the warring vendors to prepare their cases as soon as possible, to enable a speedy trial.

According to Bloomberg, Apple’s legal team says it’s “ready to go to trial next week”.

The current hearing continues with an interlocutory hearing scheduled for Thursday, September 29.

Samsung has offered a modded version of the tab, which it believes runs it clear of the ten patents Apple is using as the basis of its complaint, but Apple says three of its patents are still violated by the version offered.

Apple’s legals told the judge that Samsung is trying to “steal” its market – pretty much what companies try to do to each other, El Reg would have thought – and that if the Galaxy goes on sale, it would threaten sales not only of iPads, but also iPhones, apps and accessories.

Meanwhile, Samsung’s counter-snipe was that Apple only became concerned at its products when the Galaxy 10.1 was ready for market, because the Samsung fondleslab is slightly thinner than the iPad. ®